Solar energy

The Town Board voted unanimously last night, 4-0 with Councilman Frank Beyrodt recused, to extend the moratorium on new solar energy system approvals, initially adopted in October 2021.

A second utility grid-scale battery energy storage facility is in the review pipeline at Riverhead Town Hall, with more sure to follow, according to town officials. This proposal is for an Edwards Avenue site, adjacent to the LIPA substation that has attracted over 600 acres of utility-scale solar power facilities in the vicinity.

The Riverhead Town Board is considering extending the town’s year-long moratorium on commercial solar energy project applications. The moratorium is set to expire in October.

A 12-month moratorium on commercial solar energy applications in the Town of Riverhead was approved by the town board last night. Though the vote was unanimous, the subject remained contentious.

A new proposal for a moratorium on solar energy production systems in Calverton may be voted on at the next town board meeting.

Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar has asked the town board to again consider a moratorium on new solar projects in the town pending the completion of the comprehensive plan update.

The state today issued a final siting permit for a 36-megawatt solar facility in Calverton, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this morning.It was one of the first two renewable energy projects to be approved by the new Office of Renewable Energy Siting, created last year to streamline review and approval of renewable energy applications.

The Riverhead Planning Board last night granted preliminary site plan approval to the proposed Calverton Solar Energy Center, a 22.9 megawatt commercial solar energy production facility to be built on approximately 198 acres off Edwards Avenue in Calverton.

The Riverhead Planning Board in a split vote yesterday rejected the site plan for a 22.9 MW commercial solar facility on 198 acres off Edwards Avenue. But the proposal is by no means dead. It is a permitted use on the site under a special permit granted by the town board in December and the applicant is expected to discuss site plan revisions with the planning department.

The approval of a new 22.9 megawatt solar energy facility on 198 acres in Calverton is on the town board’s agenda tomorrow.